County leaders offer tributes to former Community Services Board executive director

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Aug. 25) saluted the work of Daryl Washington, who earlier this year stepped down as executive director of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) to accept a state government position.

Washington spent 30 years at the CSB, rising through the ranks to become executive director in 2018.

Serving in the role “is not an easy job — it’s a passion,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said during a ceremony honoring Washington’s service.

Washington accepted an appointment in January from Gov. Abigail Spanberger to serve as Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. He departed his Fairfax post on Jan. 16.

The state government “needs people like you,” McKay told Washington, while expressing the hope that “your passion and your heart are still here” in Fairfax.

Local CSBs across the commonwealth deliver services related to mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities. With his background at the local level, Washington said he hopes to “see how we can make our system even stronger across the commonwealth.”

A Fairfax County native raised in Bailey’s Crossroads, Washington said serving local residents over three decades was fulfilling.

“It really, truly was a pleasure,” he said. “There were challenging times, but there were also a lot of great times.”

“I saw firsthand the care you give,” said Braddock District Supervisor Rachna Sizemore-Heizer, who previously served on the board overseeing CSB operations. “We are so much better off because you are here.”

Washington’s years as CSB executive director coincided with the opioid epidemic and Covid. The arrival of the pandemic was particularly challenging, Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck recalled.

“There weren’t enough clinicians. There weren’t enough resources. There wasn’t enough of anything,” he said.

Storck urged Washington to “be a little entrepreneurial” in leading the state agency.

“I hope your leadership can truly make a difference in Richmond,” he said.

Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk said one of Washington’s signature accomplishments was expanding services to under-served areas of the county. He called Washington “a steadfast partner” in promoting a culture of equity.

Prior to serving as executive director of the Fairfax-Falls Church CSB, Washington spent five years as deputy director of clinical operations at the agency for five years.

Also at the Aug. 25 meeting, supervisors retroactively recognized Aug. 2-8 as National Health Center Week.

McKay said community health centers provide a key link in maintaining overall health in Fairfax.

“If we’re leaving people behind, that has an effect overall on all of us,” he said.

“We’re blessed in Fairfax County to have this safety net of health care,” McKay added.